In terms of herbal treatments, tea is a tasty beverage that also has a lot of health advantages. While water is typically advised for adults to promote hydration, the health advantages of herbal teas including antioxidants and minerals make drinks like chamomile or ginger tea well worth including in your diet. Reduced inflammation improved immune system performance, and other advantages of herbal tea are possible.
What is Herbal Tea?
Despite its name, herbal tea isn’t technically “tea,” as these drinks frequently don’t contain tea plants’ leaves or leaf buds. Tisanes, which are water-based mixtures or infusions of dried fruits, flowers, spices, or herbs, are the basis for making herbal teas. Tisanes have been demonstrated to have therapeutic effects. Know what you’re buying; many drinks promoted as “herbal tea” with “herbal tea benefits” are actually just sweet juice. Are herbal teas healthy for you? Since ancient times, certain herbal teas have been utilized as natural treatments and contain health-promoting qualities.
Herbal teas can pose some hazards to those with specific medical disorders, so dieticians advise using them sparingly and only with a doctor’s approval. Steer clear of herbal drinks that include additional sugar or other substances. Tea made from herbs shouldn’t be used in place of medical treatment.
10 Herbal Teas and Their Health Benefits
1. Chamomile Tea
The chamomile tea’s calming effects are what make it so well-liked for use as a sleep aid.
Two studies examined the effects of chamomile tea or extract on people’s sleep problems.
In a study involving 80 postpartum women who had trouble sleeping, chamomile tea consumption for two weeks resulted in better sleep and fewer depressive symptoms.
In another trial, consuming chamomile extract twice daily led to slight improvements in daytime functioning, time to fall asleep, and nighttime awakenings in 34 patients with insomnia.
Furthermore, chamomile may have benefits beyond merely promoting sleep. It is also believed to have liver-protective, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects.
There is preliminary evidence from studies done on mice and rats that chamomile may help prevent diarrhea and stomach ulcers.
Another study in persons with type 2 diabetes discovered reductions in blood glucose, insulin, and blood lipid levels while another revealed that chamomile tea reduced premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
Preliminary study indicates that chamomile tea may have a number of health advantages, but more studies are required to validate these effects.
2. Peppermint Tea
One of the herbal teas that is most frequently consumed worldwide is peppermint tea.
Although it is most frequently used to promote the health of the digestive tract, it also possesses antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral effects.
Since the majority of these impacts have not been investigated in people, it is impossible to predict whether they would have positive health implications. However, numerous research have shown the benefits of peppermint on the digestive system.
Studies have found that peppermint oil mixtures, which frequently also contained other herbs, can ease nausea, indigestion, and stomach pain.
There is proof that peppermint oil is useful for reducing esophageal, colon, and intestinal spasms.
Last but not least, research shows that peppermint oil works well to treat irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.
Thus, peppermint tea is an excellent natural cure to try if you have digestive discomfort, such as cramps, nauseousness, or indigestion.
3. Ginger Tea
A spicy and tasty beverage, ginger tea is jam-packed with beneficial, disease-preventive antioxidants.
Although it also aids in reducing inflammation and boosts the immune system, it is most well known for being a potent anti-nausea treatment.
Although it may also help with nausea brought on by cancer treatments and motion sickness, studies consistently show that ginger is useful at reducing nausea, particularly in the early stages of pregnancy.
There is evidence that ginger may treat indigestion and constipation as well as prevent stomach ulcers.
Additionally, ginger may ease dysmenorrhea, or period pain. Studies have shown that ginger supplements lessened menstrual pain.
In fact, according to two studies, ginger is just as efficient as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at reducing pain like ibuprofen.
Several studies have claimed that ginger may benefit persons with diabetes, despite the fact that the evidence for this is not always strong. According to these studies, taking supplements with ginger improved blood lipid levels and blood sugar control.
4. Hibiscus Tea
The vibrant blossoms of the hibiscus plant are used to make hibiscus tea. It has a pinkish-red hue and a tangy, reviving flavor. You can drink it hot or cold.
In addition to its striking hue and distinctive flavor, hibiscus tea has beneficial qualities.
Hibiscus tea, for instance, has antiviral qualities, and research in test tubes has demonstrated that its extract is very efficient against strains of the bird flu. But there is no proof that hibiscus tea can aid in the defense against viruses like the flu.
Hibiscus tea’s effects on elevated blood lipid levels have been the subject of several research. It has been proven helpful in a few studies, however a major review research discovered that it had no discernible impact on blood lipid levels.
However, studies have shown that hibiscus tea can help lower high blood pressure.
In reality, numerous research have shown that hibiscus tea lowers high blood pressure, however the majority of these were of low quality.
Additionally, a different investigation showed that ingesting hibiscus tea extract for six weeks greatly reduced oxidative stress in male soccer players.
Hibiscus tea should not be consumed if you are taking the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide because the two may interact. Aspirin’s effects may be sped up by hibiscus tea, so it’s best to space out doses by three to four hours.
5. Echinacea Tea
Echinacea tea is frequently touted as having the ability to both prevent and treat the common cold.
Echinacea may strengthen the immune system, which may aid the body in warding against diseases or viruses, according to evidence.
Numerous studies have shown that echinacea can shorten the duration of the common cold, lessen the severity of its symptoms, or even avoid it.
Results are contradictory, though, and the majority of studies lacked sound planning. This makes it challenging to distinguish between beneficial outcomes brought on by echinacea and accidental events.
As a result, it is impossible to determine for sure whether taking echinacea will relieve a cold.
If you do feel a cold coming on, at the absolute least, this warm herbal beverage might help ease your sore throat or unclog your clogged nose.
6. Rooibos Tea
A herbal tea from South Africa is called Rooibos. It is produced from the rooibos or red bush plant’s leaves.
Though there isn’t much scientific study on the subject, South Africans have long utilized it as medicine.
However, a few research including both humans and animals have been carried out. Studies to date have not demonstrated its efficacy in treating allergies or kidney stones.
However, one study found that rooibos tea might be good for bones. Rooibos tea, along with green and black tea, may activate the cells responsible for bone growth and density, according to a test-tube study.
The teas also reduced signs of inflammation and cell toxicity, according to the same study. The researchers hypothesized that this may be the reason tea consumption is linked to greater bone density.
Furthermore, preliminary research suggests that rooibos tea may aid in the prevention of heart disease.
According to one study, rooibos tea inhibits an enzyme that causes blood vessels to contract in a manner similar to that of a typical blood pressure medicine.
Another study discovered that six cups of rooibos tea were consumed every day for six weeks, which reduced blood levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and fat while raising levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.
To verify these results and identify any further benefits, much more study is required. The preliminary data, though, is encouraging.
7. Sage Tea
Sage tea is well recognized for its therapeutic benefits, and scientific study has started to back up a number of those advantages, particularly for brain health.
Sage is beneficial for cognitive performance and may be useful in reducing the effects of the plaques linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a number of test-tube, animal, and human studies.
In reality, despite the limitations of the investigations, two studies on oral sage drops or sage oil demonstrated improvements in the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Sage also appears to have cognitive advantages for healthy adults.
Numerous studies have shown that taking one of various forms of sage extract can improve healthy people’ mood, mental performance, and memory.
Additionally, a tiny human study discovered that sage tea improved blood cholesterol levels, while a rat study discovered that sage tea prevented colon cancer from developing.
Sage tea seems to be a healthy option, providing advantages for mental health and possibly for colon and heart health. To learn more about these effects, more study is required.
8. Lemon Balm Tea
Tea made from lemon balm has a mild, lemony flavor and appears to have health-improving qualities.
In a small study with 28 participants who drank either barley tea or lemon balm tea for six weeks, the arteries were more elastic in the lemon balm tea group. A risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and mental deterioration is arterial stiffness.
In the same study, people who drank lemon balm tea also had more elastic skin, which generally loses elasticity as people age. The study, however, lacked excellence.
Taking lemon balm tea twice daily for a month enhanced the body’s natural antioxidant enzymes, which help shield the body from oxidative damage to cells and DNA, according to a smaller study conducted on radiology workers.
As a result, individuals also displayed better lipid and DNA damage markers.
Lemon balm may also lower elevated blood lipid levels, according to preliminary research.
Lemon balm also enhanced mood and cognitive function, according to a number of studies.
Two studies with a total of 20 individuals examined the results of various lemon balm extract dosages. Both tranquility and memory showed improvements.
Another small study discovered that using lemon balm extract improved numerical processing abilities and decreased stress.
Last but not least, a smaller study discovered that drinking lemon balm tea lessened anxiety and heart palpitations.
Lemon balm tea would be a good addition to any herbal tea collection and may provide a variety of potential health advantages.
9. Rose Hip Tea
The fruit of the rose plant is used to make rose hip tea.
It has a lot of vitamin C and beneficial plant ingredients. Along with certain lipids present in rose hips, these plant components produce anti-inflammatory effects.
Numerous research have examined rose hip powder’s potential to lessen inflammation in persons with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Numerous of these studies discovered that it effectively lessened discomfort and the indications of inflammation.
Rose hips may also help with weight control, according to a 12-week study that indicated that ingesting rose hip extract reduced BMI and belly fat in 32 overweight participants.
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of rose hips may aid in the fight against skin aging.
According to a preliminary study, consuming rose hip powder for eight weeks reduced the severity of wrinkles around the eyes and enhanced the moisture and flexibility of the skin on the face.
More research will be required to confirm these effects and look into any potential new ones, but these features may also have other health advantages.
10. Passionflower Tea
Tea made from passionflower is made from the plant’s leaves, stems, and flowers.
Studies have started to support the traditional applications of passionflower tea, which include reducing anxiety and promoting restful sleep.
One study, for instance, discovered that consuming passionflower tea for a week dramatically increased sleep quality ratings.
Additionally, two research on humans indicated that passionflower was efficient at lowering anxiety. In fact, one of these research discovered that passionflower was just as efficient as a drug for reducing anxiety.
Anxiety, irritability, and agitation associated with opioid withdrawal were found to be lessened when passionflower was taken with clonidine, a medication generally used to treat opiate detoxification.
When it comes to calming down and easing tension, passionflower tea seems to be a wise choice.
Conclusion
You can choose from a plethora of herbal teas, each with a unique flavor and set of advantages. These advantages can include anti-aging qualities, stress relief, and cold treatment. Additionally, herbal teas don’t contain any caffeine like other types of tea do. They are so suitable for consumption at any time of day.
